Can opening machine



Feb. 16, 1932.

G- P. A'MES cm OPENING MACHINE Fil ed May 26, 1930 4 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, 6201176 227mm,

A TTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1932. G. P. AMES CAIN OP'ENING MACHINE Filed May 26 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1932. G. P. AMES CAfi OPENING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1932.

Filed May "26, 1950 4 Shes-Sheet 4 Z3 1 Z3 1/ F M a? 3i 1 5a 50 av if I g i is -Z: i a! Z;

Li. 1/ 3/ 45" A .a 1 ut v 5/ L i J 2" 5/ I Q 7 4g '1. J3 I J 1 & a 4.5 VI

Z INVENTOR,

I 33 I 6202 firms, 4.5 BY 1 ATTORNEY.

' Patented Feb. '16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE 1'. AMES, SPRINGFIEIJ), MASSACHUSETTS CAN OPENING MACHINE Application filed Kay 28, 1980. Serial No. 455,517.

This invention relates to improvements in can opening machines of the type in which power is applied for operating the machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure which, when a can to be opened, is placed on the platform and the cutter blade is moved into its'operative cutting position, the can will be automatically rotated, and the cover severed, when the mol0 tor circuit is closed.

A further object is to provide a can opening machine, which. will accommodate cans of different heights and diameters, as well as rectangular-shaped cans.

l5 Means is provided for moving the can, with suitable pressure, against a fluted or toothed can rotating or driving member,

- when the cutter blade is forced through the cover, whereby it will be rotated by this :0 member during the cutting operation.

, Broadly, the invention comprises a platform on which the can to-be opened is placed. An electric motor is mounted on the platform; a can rotating member, which is formed with teeth, or grooves, for engaging the periphery of the can for indenting the edge of the same is employed, whereby, when the driving member is rotated, the can will also be rotated, during the cutting operation.

0 The means for automatically moving a can towards the toothed driving member, when the cutter is forced through the top,

- or cover, comprises a pair of guide rods on which a crosshead carrying a cutter is mounted; a lever with 'two cam surfaces which performs the double function of causing the automatic clutching of the carrier to the guide rods and for forcing the cutter through the top of the can, and which, as stated, moves the can against its driving member. These and other objects will appear in the body of the specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine showing the can-receiving platform ith the guide rods, the fluted or toothed can driving member and the operating cam lever in its neutral position,

'1010 of Fig. 9 showing the clutch plate in Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of Fig. 1, showing the gear train operatively located between the shaft of the driving motor and the can rotating member 1 and with the cam lever in its neutral position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the train of gearmg.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1 illustrating, the follower member on the guide rods, the knife carrying member pivotally attached to the follower member and which carries thecu'tter, also illustrating a can in top plan view and the operating lever in section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4 showing the can vdriving member with a canin engagement therewith and the follower member with the cutter knife prior to its entrance through the upper end of the can. 4

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 7 showing the cutter kmfe, after its entrance through the top of the can which forces the outer upper peripheral'side of the can against the fluted driving member.

Fig.- 7 is a front elevational view of Fig.

.6 in full line with the cam operating lever 'in its lowered position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the oam operating lever elevated to free the clutch plate.1

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the lme -9'-9 of Fig. 5 showing the clutch plate whichis freely mounted on the upper end of the follower member and serves to clutch the follower on the guide rods to permit the blade carrying member to be raised on the gulde rods or automatically clamped thereto, when the cam lever is in its normal position, also showing the cam lever, the contractile springs, the knife carrying member and knifekv".

Fig. 10 is a sectional view. on the line its 0 'ra'tive osition.

11 is a view similar Fig. 1 0 with the clutch plate in its inoperat ve-pos tion;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectlonal ylew of a modification in which the can driving memher, instead of being, fluted, or toothed its entire length, comprises a fluted or tooth formed member that is short in length and slidably mounted on the driving shaft.

Fig. (113 is a vertical sectional view on the line "1313 of Fig. 12, with the knife in the 5. 6 indicates the electric drive motor that is secured to the vertically arranged plate 7 that is attached to the platform 1 with the angle irons 8. The motor is secured to the plate 7 with the bolts 9. The shaft 10 of the motor passes downward through the plat form 1- and carries the pinion gear 11 which meshes with the larger gear'12 secured to the shaft 13 on which shaft is the pinion gear 14 that meshes with a still larger gear 15.

The gear 15 is connected to the fluted or toothed can driving member by means of the cross pin 17, which enters a recess 18 in the up er or hub portion of the gear 15.

ecured to the upper end of the plate 7, withthe 'bolts 7 is an angle iron piece 19 on which is placed a bearing plate member 20 for the upper end of the toothed shaft 16. This shaft 16 is formed with the flutes or milled teeth 21 that extend substantially its entire length. Located on opposite sides of the milled shaft 16 are the two guide rods 22 and 23. p The bearing plate20 is formed with openings to receive the reduced upper ends 24 of the rods 22. and 23. The lower ends of these rods are reduced in diameter and enter openin in the platform 1, as indicated at 25.

' lidably mounted on the guide rods 22 and 23 is a carrier or blockmember 26 which is recessed, as shown'at 27, to fit the two guide lOdS; ThlS block member is formed with a rece'ssor opening 28 and-in this opening is placed the fluted" can driving member 16.

Pivotally connected to the block member 26' .is the rlght angular-shaped member 29 by means of the pivot screws 30. Secured to the member 29 is the cutter blade or knife 31 by means of the screw 32. Mounted on the guide rods 22 and 23 is the follower clutch plate 33 which is formed with the openings 34 that receive these guide rods. This plate is connected to the cutter blade carrying member 29 by means of the two contractile springs 35, which provides a floating connection between the clutch plate 33 and the pivotal member 29.

Pivotally mounted on the follower member 26 by means of the pin 36 is the cam operating lever 37 which is formed with the two cam surfaces 38 and 39. This lever performs two functions. When inthe position shown in Fig. 8, the surface 39 engages the upturned plate upward, asshown in Fig. 11, for unclutching it from the guide rods 22 and 23. The kni e may now be raised and lowered, since the plate is now in the parallel position, shown in Fig. 11. When in this position, the plate 33 is not clutched to the rods 22 and 23 and may be readily moved, with the carrier member 26,- the pivoted member 29 and knife 31 upward "or downward on these rods. When a can is placed on the platform 1, with its outer curved surface 2' against the fluted, or toothed, member 16, the knife is then brought downward into the position shown in Fig. 5 which rests on the cover 2 This portion 40 of the plate 33 for moving this operation is made with the lever 37 in the knife carrying member 29 and forces the cutter blade 31 through the top of the can cover, as shown by the opening 42, and against the inner surface 43; this operation serves to'retain the can firmly against the fluted, or toothed, member 16. The plate 33 i is now clutched to the guide rods. When the motor switch 44 is closed, as shown in Fig.

clutch plate and permits the cutter blade to.

be withdrawn from the inner surface of the can. The open can may then. be removed from the platform, after thecutter carrying parts are moved upward on the guide rods 22 and 23. They will be automatically locked in the elevated position, as soon as the lever 37 is released, as it will return to itsneutral position, shown in Figs. 1 and 9, actuated by v the springs 35. In other words, the springs 35operate to automatically lock the plate 33. 36 are stop pins for the lever 37 for limiting its extreme movements.

Referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the fluted or toothed member 16 is replaced by the shaft 45 having the spline groove 46 formed its entire length. 47 is a toothed can driving member, that is slidably connected to the splined shaft 45 by means of the key 48. This member 47 is formed with the teeth 49.

. For the purpose of raising and lowering the can driving member 47, the member 50 is formed with the upper and inwardly ex- 2 and the motor set in operation, the can will hub surface 52 of 47. The member f is formed with the downwardly inclinedbottom portion 53 against which .rests the in- "clined portion 54 of the lower inwardly extending arms -55, whereby when the member 50 is raised by the lever 37, the member 47 will be moved upward on this splined shaft 45, and when the member 47 is to be lowered, the portions 51 will move 47 downward into its operativeposition, as shown'in Fig. 13. The inclined lower portion 53 is for the purpose of preventing the can 2 from being placed under the toothed member 47. The subsequent operations of; severing the cover are identical with that already described above. The main current supply wires are shown at 44'. i

What I claim is:

l. A can opening machine comprising a can supporting member, a cutter, acan rotating member, means for simultaneously forcing the cutter through the cover of a can and moving the can against the rotating member, means for operating the same, and means for automatically retaining the cutter in its operative posit1on, said'means comprising guide rods, a carrier on the rods for the cutter, a clutch plate engaging the guide rods and springs connecting the clutch plate and carrier.

2. In combination, in a can opening machine, a can rotating member, a can supporting platform, a cutter, a carrier therefor, guides for the carrier, a clutch member in the guide and connected to the carrier, means for releasing the clutch member and for moving the can into contact with the said rotating member and means for operating the can rotating member.

3. In combination, in a can opening machine, a can rotating member, a can supporting platform, a cutter, a carrier therefor,

guides for the carrier, a clutch member in the guide and connected to the carrier, means for releasing the clutch. member and for moving the can into contact with the said r0.- tating member, and means for operating the can rotating member, said means comprising a toothed .member, a motor and operative connections between the motor and the toothed member.

4. In a can opening machine, the combina-- tion, a toothed can rotating member, a knife, means for forcing the knife through the cover and at the same time into engagement with the toothed member, means for retaining the can against the said member. and means for rotating the member, said means comprising guide rods, a clutch member en gaging the rods and spring meansrfor operating the clutch.

5. In a can opening machine, the combination, a toothed can rotating member, a knife,

means for forcing the knife through the cover and at the same time into engagementwith the toothed member, means for retaining the can against the said member, and means for rotating the member, said means comprising guide rods,a clutch member enaging the rods, s ring means for operat mg the clutch, an means for releasing the clutch comprising a lever with a cam surface for engaging the clutch against the tension of the springs.

6. In a can opening machine, a knife, 8. carrier for the knife to which the knife is pivoted, ide rods therefor, a clutch plate on the rods: a spring for normally rendering the clutch operative, a lever having two cam surfaces, onefor releasin theclutch and the other for forcing the kni e through the cover of the can, a can rotating member, the construction and arrangement being such that the spring will automatically retain the lever in its normalor inoperative position.

In testimony hereof, I havesubscribed my name this. 16th day of May, 1930.

- GEORGE P. AMES. 

